To put simply: friends are what makes life fun. They are a shoulder to cry on, they make everything 10x funnier, and they all around make life easier to live. Just like many others, I have a set of childhood friends—a squad I’d like to call us—that I have known since I was around six years old. Now in college, our relationships with each other are as strong as they were in elementary school and I can always count on them for anything.

Childhood best friends are unarguably the best people in your life. They know everything about you, and you can’t slide past them willy nilly without them suspecting that something is wrong. They’re the only group of people that have made me laugh so hard I actually peed myself, and the’re the only group of people that I know will never leave my side. They’re so close to me that I forget to appreciate them. (Note: I am calling them by our nicknames for each other!!!)

Dear Spam, Eggs, and Boba,

Through and through, I can call you guys my best friends. We’ve known each other since we were just little people, and now that we’re in college and separated by city and state, we’re still close as ever. We have been through everything with each other. From fights, to sleepovers, and going through fashion phases, we’ve been through it all.

At times I feel lonely in college; although I’ve made friends, I always have a hole in my heart where only you guys can fill! I’ve underestimated our long 4-hour phone calls, 3 hour FaceTime’s, and 1000000 group message threads. You’re the only people that I can count on to laugh at my nonsensical jokes, and understand me to the deepest of levels. Even now as I write this, we are texting each other about our mutual love for each other.

You guys have supported me through my endeavors and what I want in life, and you always push me to finish those late night deadlines. We have our locations shared with each other (other than Boba because she doesn’t have an iPhone tsk tsk) so we always keep track on where the other is and if the other is safe.

I’ve never been closer to any other friends in my life. Others come close, but you girls are each of my soulmates and I can’t wait for what the future holds for us. Meeting you all in the first grade was truly a blessing and I look forward to the roadtrips to visit each and every one of you!

Spam, I love the silly videos and pictures you send me of people and animals that make no sense whatsoever, yet you insist that it describes Eggs. Eggs, I love your insane craziness and recklessness at times—it’s so funny and so entertaining that I can’t help but laugh even when you trip and fall. Boba, I love your maturity and confidence; you and Spam are certainty the mommie and daddie of the group, always keeping Eggs and I in place.

It’s cliché, but I love you girls to the moon and back. We’re a squad in all aspects, and we can’t go a day without talking to each other. Thank you for being my friends, you have no idea how much I appreciate you guys!

Love, Sushi

"There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will" -Unknown